Stage 4 anal cancer
Stage 4 anal cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver. The cancer can be any size and may or may not have spread to the nearby lymph nodes.
Unfortunately, cancer that has spread elsewhere in the body is advanced cancer.
Anal cancer can start in different cell types. This information is for 
which is the most common type of anal cancer.
TNM staging
Doctors also use another staging system for anal cancer. They call this the TNM staging system. It stands for tumour, node and metastasis:
- T describes the size of the tumour
- N describes whether there are any cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes
- M describes whether the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
The TNM system describes the cancer in detail. The number staging system puts these details together to give an overall stage.
Number stage 4 is the same as any T, any N, M1 in the TNM staging system.
Treatment for stage 4 anal cancer
Knowing the stage of the cancer helps your doctor to decide which treatment is best for you. Treatment can also depend on:
- where the cancer is in your anus
- your general health
The aim of treatment for stage 4 anal cancer is to slow down the growth of the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for advanced anal cancer. It uses anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. These drugs are also called cytotoxic drugs. They circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream.
Best supportive care
If you’re not fit enough for chemotherapy, your doctor might suggest best supportive care. This is also called palliative care. It aims to relieve the symptoms of the cancer and improve your . Treatments may include and surgery.
